Twine-cutter



0. L. RAYMER.

TWINE CUTTER.

APPLICATION mu) MAR. 17, 19:9.

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

m M a v M 5 Grimm;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TWINE-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1921.

Application filed March 17, 1919. Serial No. 283,160.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ,OSCAR L. RAYMER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Toronto, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Twine- Cutters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention has reference generally to improvements in that class of inventions known as cutlery, and more particularly relates to a twine cutter.

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide a device of the above mentioned character designed in the form of a ring for application on one of the fingers of the user when the cutting blade is arranged in an extended position or else may be carried in the pocket and serve as a guard for the cutting blade when the latter is in a folded inactive position.

As an equally important object this invention contemplates the provision of a device of the above character wherein improved means is employed forpivotally and removably mounting the cutting blade on the ring and for either holding the blade in a folded inactiveposition within the ring so that the ring will serve asia guard for the blade or else lock the blade when the latteris in an extended operative position.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a device of the above mentioned character wherein improved resilient retaining means is employed in conjunction with the pivoting and locking means forthe blade for removably holding said last mentioned means in position.

This a more specific object of this invention to provide improved fastening means for connecting the ears formed at the terminals of the ring together and for pivotally connecting the retaining leaf spring to the cars so that'it may be readily removahly engaged with the U-shaped pivoting and retaining element for theblade.

Among the other aims and objects of this inventionmay be recited the provision of a device of the character described with a view to compactness, and in which the number of parts are few, the construction sim 1e and the cost ofproduction low and the e ciency high.

Other improvementsand novel details in the construction and arrangement of the various parts of the apparatus will be brought out more in detail in the description to follow, which-for a clear understanding of the invention should be considered in connection with the accompanying drawings formmg a part hereof andwherein is disclosed for the purpose of illustration a convenient and satisfactory embodiment of the invent1on. It is to be notedin this connection that minor changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the principle of operation of the various parts.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 isa perspective view of the device wit-l1 the blade shown in extended p0 sition.

Fig. 2 is a similar view'showing theblade in a folded inactive position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken through the ears and looking toward the cutting edge of the cutting blade.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the device.

Fig. 5 is a detail view.

Similar characters of-reference are employed in all of the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings there is provided an improved twine cutter embodying a ring 1, the body of which is arranged in an annular form while the terminals thereof project outwardly from the ring and constitute ears 2, and these ears are formed with spaced openings 3 aHCldWhiCh aline with eachother when the ears are arranged in closely spaced relation, as indicated in the drawing.

The cutting means in the present instance consists of a blade 5 provided near the inner end with an opening 6, the blade is relatively thin and the inner end is designed to be arranged between the ears.

With a view toward providing an improved retaining means for the blade for the pivoting of the blade between the ears and for locking the blade in either an extended operative position relative to the ears or else in a folded inactive position within the ring so that the latter will serve as aguard therefor, a U-shaped element, indicated in its entirety by the numeral 7 is employed. This U-shaped element comprises an intermediate portionS formed on its outer face with a recess 9 while continuing from the recess are spaced arms 10 and 11. These arms are arranged in parallel relation with each other while the long arm 10 is designed to be passed through the alining openings 3 in the ears and also through the opening 6 in the blade for the pivoting of the blade, while the other short arm 11 passes through the alining openings 4: and constitute a stop or lock. In this connection it is to be understoood that the space between the arms 10 and 11 is slightly wider than the space between the openings 6 and the rear edge of the blade, so that the long arm 10 which projects through both of the ears may be shoved outwardly from the ears to permit of the swingingof the blade by the terminal of the short arm. Subsequently the short arm 11 may be again engaged through the openings 4t for the locking of the blade in an inactive position.

As intimated, improved resilient means have been provided for retaining the U shaped element in position. In reducing this feature of the invention to practice a leaf spring 12 is employed, the free end thereof being arranged in the recess while the tension of the spring serves to hold the element 7 in position.

Suitable fastening means, such as a rivet 13 is passed through the opening in the inner end of the spring and also through the ears near the outer ends thereof and serves to pivotally connect the spring to the ears and to fasten the ears to each other.

For the purpose of providing suitable means for permitting of the adjusting of the rings so that they may be worn on various size fingers, a split resilient insert band it is employed, while projecting from the side edges of this band medially of the ends thereof are retaining lugs 15 which are seat ed in recesses 16 in the side edges of the ring at a point opposite the ears, as indicated. Opposed lugs 17 also project from the band near the outer edges thereof and are designed to be arranged at opposite points on the side edges of the ring near the point of juncture of the body of the ring with the ears. Suitable padding means, such as a strip of paper 18 is designed to be arranged between the inner surface of the ring and the insert band 14: and retained by the latter for making the diameter across the inner surface of the band smaller, when desired.

In use the ring is applied to one of the fingers of the user while the cutting blade is designed to cut cord or twine subsequent to the wrapping of a bundle. In this connection it is to be observed that when in an operative extended position the blade is retained in such position by the short arm or stop 11, the latter serving as a substantial lock therefor for preventing inward movement of the blade, while outer movement is in a limited sense.

prevented by the rivet '13 which fastens the ears together. lVhcnever it is desired to replace the blade by a new blade or to sharpen the old blade, the spring 12 is lifted from engagement with the recess 9 and swung to one side to permit of the removal of the U shaped element '7, subsequently the blade may be slipped from between the ears.

It is lwlievcd in view of the foregoing description that a further detailed description of the operation of the invention is entirely unnecessary. Likewise, it is believed that the advantages of the invention will be readily apparent. However, it is to be noted that the ring is of such eonstriurtion that it can be conveniently used by paclwrs, sl1ip pers, mailers, et eetera, and since the blade is at all times in convenient position on the hand of the user it is apparent that much time is saved by obviating the employment. of other cutting means, such as scissors, ct eetera. Moreover when not in use the blade can be swung into an active position and because of the peculiar arrangement of the blade with respect to the ring the latter will serve as a guard for the blade so that the device can be carried in the pocket.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is 1. A twine cutter of the character described embodying a ring, ears formed at the terminals thereof, a blade positioned between the ears, means for removably pivoting the blade between the ears and for retaining the blade in an extended or folded position, means for preventing displacement of the retaining means, and means for securing the last mentioned means to one of the ears and. for fastening the ears together.

2. A twine cutter of the character described embodying a ring, a body portion bent to form a ring, ears formed at the terminals thereof, a blade removably positioned between the ears, means for removably pivot ing the blade between the ears and for either removably holding the blade in an inactive position or in an extended position, resilient means for preventing displacement of said last mentioned means, and common means for securing the resilient means and for removablyfastening the ears together.

llfi

3. A twine cutter of the character described consisting of a body portion forming a ring and ears provided at the terminals thereof, a blade positioned between the cars, a U-shaped element for pivoting the blade between the ears and for holding the blade either in a folded inactive position or p in an extended operative position, a spring for removably holding the U-shaped element in position, and common means for securing the ears together and for swingably connectlng the spring to one of the ears.

4. A twine cutter of the character described embodying a ring shaped body portion, means formed at the terminals thereof,

a blade positioned between the ears, a U- shaped element for pivoting the blade be tween the ears and for holdin the blade therein in a folded inactive position within the body portion so as to be guarded thereby or else in an extended operative position relative to the ears, a spring normally arranged against the element for preventing accidental displacement thereof, and a fastener for swingably connecting the spring to one of the ears and for securing the ears together.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

OSCAR LLOYD RAYMER. 

